Joseph Holland, a Cornell University football star who became New York's housing commissioner under former Gov. George Pataki, has decided to enter the Republican race for governor.

Holland, who had been considering a campaign for weeks, sent an email to Republican county committee chairs across New York this week to ask for their support in the governor's race, the New York Daily News reported.

"I am writing just to remove any doubt or uncertainty as to the fact of my candidacy," Holland said in the email obtained by the Daily News. "I will be formally announcing my candidacy in newsworthy fashion (details soon forthcoming) before the end of the month."

Holland appeared at a debate Saturday in suburban Buffalo with the two other announced candidates, State Sen. John DeFrancisco of DeWitt and former Erie County executive Joel Giambra.

DeFrancisco has emerged as the leading contender, gathering support from more than a dozen key Republican county committee chairs, two GOP members of Congress, and state Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan of Long Island.